San Angelo Health Foundation adds 2 to board

Grant-giving group lauds fresh thinkers

SAN ANGELO, Texas - The San Angelo Health Foundation sought fresh perspective for its board and filled that need with the appointments of Carlos Rodriguez and Steve Cecil.

The young blood, Rodriguez, 39, and Cecil, 44, were hand-picked by the foundation to help the board in the decision-making process as allocates $2.5 million worth of community grants, SAHF President Tom Early said.

"We do have a mandatory age for the board members an age limit of 75," Early said. "Obviously bringing in Steve and Carlos, we are trying to bring younger views and skill-sets to the board."

The SAHF was created in 1995 through the sale of Angelo Community Hospital to Columbia/HCA, with proceeds of $44 million as a finite gift.

The foundation's vision states: "The healthy San Angelo community would indicate a wide range of cultural, educational, health care, transportation, housing and public services.

"Access and affordability of services would provide all citizens an opportunity to achieve their highest level of independence and contribution to the community."

Since the foundation started issuing grants in 1997, it has distributed approximately $40 million across San Angelo and the Concho Valley.

The board convenes quarterly to decide which grant proposals should receive awards and how much of the foundation's $2.5 million annual budget to spend.

The addition of Cecil and Rodriguez brings the board to 15 members.

Over the years, the board's has fluctuated from 12 to 16 members, Early said. Each member holds a three-year term and can be renominated an unlimited number of times.

Cecil, a 44-year-old investor from Paris, Texas, who has lived in San Angelo the past 17 years, said he was honored when he was asked to be part of the board.

Cecil's wife, Julie, is a San Angelo native, and the two are heavily involved in civic affairs.

"I think we both strive to make San Angelo the best community it can be, and the Health Foundation is a big part of that equation," Cecil said.

"We can all do more for the community, and the Health Foundation is very impactful and I am glad to be a part of it. It can make a difference in the community."

Cecil works at Cecil & Eady Investments. He graduated the University of Texas with a master's degree in professional accounting.

He serves as a member of the Investment and Oversight Committee for the city of San Angelo and is a Shannon Hospital trustee, chairman of the West Texas Lighthouse for the Blind and board member of the San Angelo Firemen's Pension Fund.

Cecil has experience in financial matters and fiscal oversight. He is affiliated with a number of accounting organizations.

Rodriguez, a lawyer and partner with Webb, Stokes & Sparks, is a San Angelo native. He was an honors graduate of Angelo State University and earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

He serves as a committee member of the District 15A Grievance Committee for the State Bar of Texas and on the executive committee of the University of Texas School of Law Alumni Association.

He also sits on the Hospice of San Angelo board.

Rodriguez could not be reached for comment.

Later this month, the SAHF board will convene to distribute its first round of grants for the year.

Cecil and Rodriguez will be present, and both will act as observers, Early said.

"They're going easy on me in the beginning," Cecil said. "They will allow me to get my feet wet and listen. I will get more familiar with the process — that's the main thing — and by the next quarter I will be able to get involved and start throwing my two cents in."

The bottom line of the foundation is to enhance the quality of life for the people in the San Angelo area, and Cecil and Rodriguez will fit well with accomplishing that, Early said.

"We're trying to get good representation from the community. We look at skill sets. Steve is in investments, and Carlos has the legal representation," he said.

"We try to look at the broader community and be representative to the community as a whole. These guys will fit in perfectly."